Regrigerator with glass shelves

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a plurality of side walls defining an internalcompartment. Each side wall including supports. A glass shelf includes parallel sides that each include an element having a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP 16176460.0, filed Jun. 27, 2016, entitled “REFRIGERATOR WITH GLASS SHELVES,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, having an internal compartment with side walls, each side wall being provided with molded parts for supporting at least one glass shelf.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment. A glass shelf includes parallel sides, each having an element including a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls. Raised portions are disposed on each element. The raised portions include hook-shaped parts configured to cooperate with corresponding side rails of a drawer for preventing tilting movement of the drawer.

Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment. A glass shelf includes parallel sides that each have an element with a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member. Each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure includes a refrigerator having a compartment defined by a plurality of side walls. Supports are formed on each side wall. A glass shelf includes an element having a C-shaped cross-section for receiving a portion of a glass member. The element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding support disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.

Traditional glass shelf refrigerator systems are often quite complex and typically require at least three elements on each side of the shelf (i.e., the groove, the support rail, and a shaped rail) fixed to the shelf. Moreover, this solution is mainly focused on sliding shelves and not sliding drawers.

In modern refrigerators, there is the trend of allowing the user to arrange the inner part of the refrigerator, depending on the preference of the user. The user can decide to have simple glass shelves or sliding drawers in the refrigerator cavity.

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator in which the user can easily pass from a cavity with shelves only to a cavity with shelves and drawers.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the user with good feedback during the use of the drawers.

In particular, the present disclosure avoids the lateral wobbling of the drawer and vertical movement of the drawer. In this way, during use of the drawer, the user feels a precise extraction of the drawer, similar to the use of metal telescopic rails.

The basic concept of the present disclosure consists of two plastic elements inserted at the glass shelf sides.

In the upper part of the plastic elements, some protrusions allow to block the sliding movement of the drawer.

According to another concept, lateral parts of the plastic elements maintain the glass shelf in the center of the compartment or cell.

According to another concept, in the front part of each shelf, two elastic ribs with pins block the glass shelf on the cell, such that the glass shelf avoids movement during handling of food items or during pull out of the drawer. In addition, the elastic ribs compensate the unavoidable deformation of the cabinet.

Plastic elements are made of polyoxymethylene (POM) to allow a better sliding of the drawer. In an alternative solution, plastic elements may be made of cheaper plastic material (for instance polypropylene (PP)) with co-molded shaped protrusion of POM on which the drawer can slide.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features of the present disclosure will be clear from the detailed description of one embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a shelf according to the disclosure immediately before mounting of the shelf on the side walls of the refrigerator compartment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the shelf mounted on the side walls of the refrigerator compartment;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the shelf of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sliding drawer mounted on the shelf, where the side walls of the compartment have been removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is another enlarged bottom perspective view of the shelf of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a component according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the device closer to an intended viewer of the device, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the device further from the intended viewer of the device. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a . . . ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, a refrigerator R includes an inner cavity defined by a compartment C, wherein a plurality of glass shelves G are mounted within the refrigerator R. Each shelf G is provided, on parallel sides, with plastic elements 10 having a C-shaped cross-section mounted on an edge 12 of the shelf G. Each plastic element 10 may have a continuous C-shaped portion 11 a (as shown in FIG. 7). Alternatively, each plastic element 10 may have a C-shaped slotted portion 11 b (as shown in FIG. 6). Both C-shaped portions 11 a, 11 b (continuous or slotted) have the same purpose for mounting the plastic element 10 on the shelf.

Inner walls W of the compartment C present two molded parts 14 and 17, each of which may define a lowered seat. The two molded parts 14 and 17 may be obtained by thermoforming a plastic inner liner, or by using components (such as foam) obtained by injection molding, and insert the components into an aperture defined by the liner in a tight manner. The term “molded parts” includes the above solutions, and any alternative solution as well.

A front molded part 14 includes a blind hole 14 a for receiving a pin 16 a of an elastic portion 16 of the plastic element 10, which protrudes laterally and in a front portion thereof. The elastic portion 16 extends downwardly from the shelf G. The detail of the mounted configuration is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the pin 16 a is elastically inserted in the blind hole 14 a.

The front portion of the plastic element 10 includes a cross part 10 a, which avoids any sliding of the glass shelf G toward the outside, while any backward movement of the shelf G is prevented by a similar cross part 10 b present in a rear portion of the plastic element 10 (FIG. 5) or by a rear wall of the compartment.

With reference again to FIG. 2, an upper side of each plastic element 10 includes two series of protrusions 18, 20. A first series of protrusions 18 are simple linear protrusions on which a bottom portion or bottom wall of a plastic drawer 22 can slide. The protrusions 20 of the second series are hook-shaped and are configured to cooperate with side rails 24 of the bottom of the drawer 22 for avoiding any tilting movement thereof. Each hook-shaped protrusion 20 opens toward an adjacent linear protrusion 18. Moreover, each plastic element 10 is provided with a guide protrusion 26 on the front part of the element 10, which is shaped so as to guide the drawer 22 and its side rails 24 in the initial mounting sliding movement of the drawer itself. The guide protrusion includes an angled forward portion and a rearward portion that is generally parallel with an adjacent protrusion 18.

Each plastic element 10 is also provided with a second elastic portion in the form of a side elastic tongue 28, which keeps the glass shelf G in the center of the compartment.

From the above description it is clear how the mounting of the glass shelf G in the inner compartment C is simple and safe, since one plastic element 10 is coupled with each of two opposite sides of a glass plate, and then the glass shelf G (including the glass plate and the plastic element 10) is inserted elastically in the molded parts 14, 17. If a user wants to install a sliding drawer 22 in the space defined by two glass shelves G, the user simply inserts the drawer 22 on the glass shelf G, and in this coupling movement, the user is helped by the shaped guide protrusion 26.

For avoiding the tilting movement when the drawer 22 reaches a fully opened configuration, the drawer 22 includes a lateral protrusion 30 configured to cooperate with a corresponding protrusion (not shown) of the inner liner.

The series of protrusions 18, 20, wherein the drawer 22 slides may be of a plastic co-molded material different from the material of the plastic element 10 and having a lower friction coefficient may reduce the overall cost of the plastic elements 10.

It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described invention and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the invention as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present invention. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment; a glass shelf having parallel sides that each include an element having a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member, wherein each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls; and raised portions disposed on each element, the raised portions comprising hook-shaped parts configured to cooperate with corresponding side rails of a drawer for preventing tilting movement of the drawer.
 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein each element is provided with a second elastic portion cooperating with the respective side wall for maintaining the glass member centered within the internal compartment.
 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein each molded part includes a rear portion and a front portion, and wherein the first elastic portion is configured to cooperate with the front molded part.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first elastic portion is a part of the element protruding laterally therefrom and configured to cooperate with a lowered seat of the front molded part.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second elastic portion of the element is an elastic tongue protruding laterally therefrom in a direction substantially opposite to the first elastic portion.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a guide protrusion disposed on a front part of the element, wherein the guide protrusion is shaped to guide the drawer and the side rails in an initial mounting sliding movement of the drawer.
 7. A refrigerator comprising: a plurality of side walls defining an internal compartment; a glass shelf having parallel sides that each include an element having a C-shaped cross-section for embedding, at least partially, respective edges of a glass member, wherein each element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding seat of a molded part disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.
 8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein each element is provided with a second elastic portion cooperating with the respective side wall for maintaining the glass member centered within the internal compartment.
 9. The refrigerator of claim 7, comprising: a drawer having a bottom portion configured to slide on raised portions of each element.
 10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the raised portions comprise hook-shaped parts configured to cooperate with corresponding rails of the drawer for preventing tilting movement of the drawer.
 11. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein each molded part includes a rear portion and a front portion, and wherein the first elastic portion is configured to cooperate with the front molded part.
 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the first elastic portion is a part of the element protruding laterally therefrom and configured to cooperate with a lowered seat of the front molded part.
 13. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the second elastic portion of the element is an elastic tongue protruding laterally therefrom in a direction substantially opposite to the first elastic portion.
 14. A refrigerator comprising: a compartment defined by a plurality of side walls; supports formed on each side wall; a glass shelf including an element having a C-shaped cross-section for receiving a portion of a glass member, wherein the element includes a first elastic portion configured to cooperate with a corresponding support disposed on one of the plurality of side walls.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein each element is provided with a second elastic portion cooperating with the respective side wall for maintaining the glass member centered within an internal compartment.
 16. The refrigerator of claim 14, comprising: a drawer having a bottom portion configured to slide on raised portions of each element.
 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the raised portions comprise hook-shaped parts configured to cooperate with corresponding rails of the drawer for preventing tilting movement of the drawer.
 18. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein each support includes a rear portion and a front portion, and wherein the first elastic portion is configured to cooperate with the support.
 19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first elastic portion is a part of the element protruding laterally therefrom and configured to cooperate with a lowered seat of the support.
 20. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the second elastic portion of the element is an elastic tongue protruding laterally therefrom in a direction substantially opposite to the first elastic portion. 